Hurricane Chris downgraded to tropical storm

By

UPI staff

Hurricane Chris, the second hurricane of the Atlantic season, was downgraded to a tropical storm Thursday as it continues its path from United States toward Newfoundland, Canada. Image courtesy of the National Hurricane Center

July 12 (UPI) -- Hurricane Chris was downgraded to a tropical storm on Thursday, after moving away from the United States toward Newfoundland, Canada, the National Hurricane Center said.

The center of the storm was located 245 miles southeast of Halifax, Nova Scotia, and 470 miles southwest of Cape Race, Newfoundland. It was moving 35 mph toward the northeast, the NHC's 5 a.m. EDT advisory said.

The storm had 70-mph winds with tropical-storm-force winds extending up to 175 miles from the center of the storm.

No coastal warnings or watches were in effect but swells from the storm are expected to affect coastal areas from North Carolina to New England during the next few days. Swells also will spread northward along the southern coasts of Nova Scotia and Newfoundland overnight and into Thursday.

The swells could cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions.

The storm was expected to produce 1 inch to 3 inches of rain over Newfoundland as it headed northeast, with possible isolated accumulations of 6 inches.

Chris was the second hurricane of the Atlantic season after Beryl, which degenerated into remnants Monday.